The United States Department of State has announced the
modification of its nonimmigrant visa
interview waiver system, which affects student visa applications.
The revisions, which were revealed in December, are the result of a decision made by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security. The adjustments, which are subject to annual review, benefit some candidates while limiting opportunities for others. The waivers will be in place until further notice and are subject to change.
Under some conditions, the updated standards allow
non-immigrant visa applicants, including students, to qualify for an interview
waiver. The waiver is now permanent, which means that students who have held a
non-immigrant visa within the last 48 months are now eligible for interview
waivers when applying for a new visa in the same category. The process is
streamlined, with applicants submitting their applications in their country of
nationality or residence, having never been refused a visa until it was
overcome or waived, and having no obvious or probable ineligibility.
The US Department of State granted consular officials the
authority to forego interviews for non-immigrant visa applicants with prior
visa issuance in late 2021. This provision was extended until the end of 2022
for first-time applicants from visa-waiver program countries and then renewed
until the end of 2023. However, interview waivers for first-time applicants
from visa-waiver nations are no longer accessible. Consular officers may still
request in-person interviews on a case-by-case basis.
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